Lately, I have been battling a bit with myself about the idea of routines.
Think about it: we start young. Wake up, wash up, brush teeth and get ready for school or the day. It’s a routine. It’s not bad, it’s just the routine. But we progressively gain more and more routines, based on our livelihoods and home situation. You can look at it like a cage—or like a structure that helps us navigate our lives.
But when you have an open calendar—or mostly open calendar—routine seems less meaningful and more restrictive. Therein lies the rub, as it were. I like knowing what is ahead, but I don’t want to live in the cage of this, then that, then the next.
In some ways, I want it. In other ways, I don’t.
In some ways, I love having a day presented all nice and neatly, but in other ways, I hate it.
I value the spontaneity of being able to feel like it’s time for a walk or a time to chill, read or play. But on the other hand, it’s a bit destabilizing; kind of like aimlessly wandering.
Which brings me to the question of what’s wrong with aimlessly wandering? Yes, I have some fixed things on my calendar, like appointments with my trainer or orchestra rehearsal, but, for the most part, the rest is up to me.
How are you dealing with this? Or are you at all? I’d love to hear your experiences and thoughts.
